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Orion SkyQuest XT8g Go To Dobsonian Telescope

The Orion SkyQuest XT8g combines Dobsonian telescope simplicity with the modern conveniences of go to and object location and tracking.

Orion Dobsonian telescopes have always been known for superb optical and mechanical quality, wonderful ease of use, and remarkably affordable prices. One other thing they - and almost all other Dobsonians on the market - have had in common: you pushed the telescope to your observing target by hand.

Until now. Orion is pleased to herald another giant leap in Dobsonian evolution with the introduction of the SkyQuest XTg series of fully motorized GoTo Dobsonian telescopes. Now, pointing an Orion Dobsonian to even the most elusive of NGC curiosities is as easy as pushing a button or two on the XTg Dobsonian telescope's illuminated computerized GoTo hand controller. High-torque servo motors guided by two pairs of high-resolution encoders then slew the telescope right to your object of interest - any of over 42,000 objects in the computerized GoTo controller's database. No more nudging the telescope tube continuously to keep the object from drifting out of the field of view, either. The 8" aperture XT8g Dobsonian automatically tracks the celestial object's apparent motion, keeping it centered in the telescope eyepiece while you savor the view. Any amateur astronomer who has ever manually tracked a night-sky object with a Dobsonian telescope will greatly appreciate the benefit of this convenient and precise tracking system. What's more, the closed-loop electronics of the XT8g let you move the telescope manually - or endure the accidental bump - without losing orientation for accurate, automated GoTo pointing!

The Orion SkyQuest XT8g Dobsonian telescope combines GoTo pointing convenience with excellent portability and an affordable price. It features a 203mm (8") aperture; 1200mm focal-length parabolic mirror (f/5.9) made from low-thermal-expansion optical glass, with enhanced reflectivity (94%) aluminum coatings for high-definition images. The mirror is center marked to make alignment of the optics (also called collimation) easier and more precise. The optical tube comes equipped with an accurate dual-speed 2" Crayford focuser complete with an 1.25" adapter for use with both 2" and 1.25" telescope eyepieces. The 11:1 fine focus knob ensures that you'll quickly find that ultra-sharp focus point that makes your target object pop with dazzling clarity! The telescope's modern open mirror cell design facilitates efficient cooling of the primary mirror to ambient temperature so you can spend more time viewing, and less time waiting for temperature equilibration. The mirror cell also features threaded holes for mounting an optional cooling accelerator fan, for even faster equilibration.

The GoTo Dobsonian base of the SkyQuest XT8g comes with all optical encoders, drive motors, and gears pre-installed, making assembly a breeze. The telescope optical tube drops into the GoTo base on a dovetail trunnion and conveniently locks in place with a single hand knob. A simple two-star alignment procedure is all it takes to orient the telescope to the sky for GoTo operation. Then let the fun begin! When you're ready to call it a night, just loosen the knob and pop the optical tube off the Dobsonian base for easy transport or storage. Handles on the base's front and side panels make it easy to lift and carry.

A thorough set of standard accessories packaged with the XT8g Dobsonian telescope include an Orion EZ Finder II reflex sight, removable eyepiece rack with holes for one 2" and three 1.25" telescope eyepieces, hand controller mounting bracket, quick collimation cap, a wide-field 28mm DeepView 2" eyepiece, and a 12.5mm illuminated-crosshair Plossl eyepiece (1.25") which enables ultra-precise GoTo system alignment. The XT8g drive motors require power from a 12-volt DC field battery or AC adapter, sold separately. A DC cable is included with telescope that has an auto-lighter style plug on one end for connecting to your 12-volt DC power source, and a coaxial plug on the other end that fits the power jack installed on the Dobsonian base.

You're going to love plying the night skies with the SkyQuest XT8g GoTo Dobsonian telescope. The computerized GoTo hand controller's softly red-illuminated keypad lets you select an object from a variety of intuitive menus, or take a tour of the best objects in the sky at any time of year. The time you'll save by not having to manually search for your targets will allow you to kick back, relax, and spend more time enjoying the magnificent views through the eyepiece.

If you are an intermediate or avid deep-sky hunter who wants a big-aperture telescope but not the high price tag, a Dobsonian is the way to go. And now, finally, you can have one that offers the convenience of motor driven GoTo pointing - to anything in the heavens you'd like to see! Make your next telescope the Orion SkyQuest XT8g GoTo Dobsonian!